CLAT PG

CLAT PG 2026: Syllabus, Exam Pattern, Eligibility, Dates & Preparation

Law

Updated on June 12, 2026

CLAT PG 2026 is the national-level entrance examination conducted for admission to Master of Laws (LL.M.) programmes at India’s leading National Law Universities. It is a highly competitive test designed to evaluate a candidate’s advanced legal knowledge, analytical ability, and understanding of core law subjects. This examination plays a crucial role for law graduates aiming to specialize further and build careers in academia, litigation, judiciary, or corporate law. This article offers a complete overview of CLAT PG 2026, including its syllabus, exam pattern, eligibility criteria, important dates, and effective preparation strategies to help candidates secure admission into top NLUs.

CLAT PG 2026 Exam Highlights

CLAT PG 2026 is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the Consortium of NLUs for admission into LL.M. programmes offered by participating National Law Universities. The exam evaluates candidates on advanced legal knowledge, comprehension skills, and analytical reasoning based on core law subjects and landmark judgments.

Particulars	Details
Conducting Body	Consortium of NLUs
Exam Level	Postgraduate (LL.M.)
Mode of Exam	Offline (Pen & Paper)
Question Type	Passage-based MCQs
Total Questions	120
Total Marks	120
Duration	2 Hours
Courses Offered	LL.M. programmes in NLUs
Selection Basis	CLAT PG score + counselling process

CLAT PG 2026 serves as the primary gateway for admission into India’s top National Law Universities for postgraduate legal studies.

CLAT PG 2027 Important Dates

The CLAT PG 2027 notification is expected to be released in July 2026, followed by a structured admission cycle including registration, admit card release, examination, results, and counselling. The exam is conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities in an online registration format with an offline pen-and-paper test.

The timeline is crucial for candidates as missing deadlines in any stage can lead to disqualification from the admission process.

Event	Expected Date
Notification Release	July 2026
Registration Start	1 August 2026
Registration End	31 October 2026
Admit Card Release	November 2026
Exam Date	6 December 2026
Provisional Answer Key	7–8 December 2026
Result Declaration	Around 16 December 2026
Final Answer Key	Same day as result
Counselling Start	Last week of December 2026

CLAT PG 2026 Exam Pattern

The CLAT PG 2026 exam is conducted in offline mode and follows a passage-based MCQ format designed to test comprehension and legal reasoning ability. The paper is divided into two major sections with equal weightage.

Feature	Details
Exam Mode	Offline (Pen & Paper)
Duration	2 Hours
Total Questions	120
Total Marks	120
Question Type	Passage-based MCQs
Marking Scheme	+1 for correct, -0.25 for wrong
Sections	Constitutional Law + Other Law

CLAT PG 2026 Section-Wise Distribution

Section	Questions	Marks
Constitutional Law	60	60
Other Law Subjects	60	60
Total	120	120

This structure highlights the equal importance of Constitutional Law and other core legal subjects in the exam.

CLAT PG 2026 Marking Scheme

Response Type	Marks Awarded
Correct Answer	+1
Incorrect Answer	-0.25
Unattempted	0

The negative marking system makes accuracy and strategic question selection critical for scoring well in the exam.

CLAT PG 2026 Eligibility Criteria

To appear for CLAT PG 2026, candidates must fulfill minimum academic qualifications set by the Consortium of NLUs. There is no upper age limit for the examination.

Eligibility Requirements

LLB (3-year or 5-year) degree from a recognized university
Degree must be approved by BCI
Final-year candidates are also eligible (as per rules)

Minimum Marks Requirement

Category	Minimum Marks
General / OBC / PwD / NRI / OCI	50%
SC / ST	45%

Age Limit

No upper age limit for CLAT PG 2026

CLAT PG 2026 Application Process

The CLAT PG application process is conducted completely online through the official Consortium website. Candidates must carefully fill in personal, academic, and preference details before submitting the form and paying the application fee.

Steps to Apply for CLAT PG 2026

Visit the official website: consortiumofnlus.ac.in
Register using name, mobile number, and email ID
Verify OTP and activate account
Login and select PG application form
Fill personal, academic, and category details
Select exam centres (up to 3 preferences)
Upload required documents
Pay application fee online
Submit and download confirmation page

CLAT PG 2026 Application Fee

Category	Fee
General / OBC / PwD / NRI / OCI	₹4,000
SC / ST / BPL	₹3,500

Important Application Rules

Particulars	Details
Mode of Payment	Online only
Refund Policy	Non-refundable
Form Submission	Only one form allowed
Corrections	Not allowed after submission
Transaction Charges	Applicable

Documents Required for CLAT PG 2026 Application

Document	Format
Photograph	JPG/JPEG
Signature	JPG/JPEG
Category Certificate (if applicable)	PDF

CLAT PG 2026 Application Form Details

The application form requires accurate personal, academic, and preference-related information.

Section	Information Required
Personal Details	Name, DOB, Gender, Category, Disability status
Communication	Address, email, phone number, domicile
Academic Details	University name, marks, qualification status
Exam Preferences	Exam centres (3 choices)
NLU Preference	Order of preferred NLUs
Category Selection	General/OBC/SC/ST/EWS/PwD

CLAT PG 2026 Document Upload Requirements

Candidates must ensure proper file formats before uploading documents to avoid rejection during verification.

Document	Format
Photograph	JPG/JPEG
Signature	JPG/JPEG
Category Certificate	PDF

CLAT PG 2026 Syllabus: Subject-Wise Topics & Weightage Overview

The CLAT PG 2026 syllabus is designed to evaluate a candidate’s advanced understanding of core law subjects through passage-based MCQs. The exam tests both conceptual clarity and the ability to apply legal principles in real-world scenarios. The paper consists of 120 questions carrying 1 mark each, with a negative marking of 0.25 for incorrect answers.

The syllabus primarily focuses on Constitutional Law and Other Core Law subjects, making it essential for candidates to prioritize high-weightage areas during preparation.

Subject	Key Topics	Expected Weightage
Criminal Law	Mens rea, actus reus, general exceptions, IPC offences, CrPC basics, sentencing principles	10–15 marks
Constitutional Law	Fundamental Rights, DPSP, federalism, judicial review, amendments, landmark SC judgments	~10 marks
Jurisprudence	Schools of thought, legal theory, rights, justice, interpretation of law	~10 marks
Family Law	Marriage, divorce, maintenance, adoption, succession, guardianship	5–10 marks
Public International Law	Treaties, state responsibility, jurisdiction, human rights, international courts	5–10 marks
Corporate Law	Company formation, shares, directors, governance, winding up	5–10 marks
Environmental Law	EPA, PIL, sustainable development, key environmental judgments	5–10 marks
Law of Contract	Offer & acceptance, breach, remedies, specific contracts, quasi-contracts	5–10 marks
Property Law	Transfer of Property Act, lease, mortgage, ownership rights	~5 marks
Arbitration & Conciliation	Arbitration Act 1996, dispute resolution, mediation basics	~5 marks
Intellectual Property Law	Copyrights, trademarks, patents, IP landmark cases	~5 marks
Labour Law	Industrial disputes, trade unions, labour welfare laws	~5 marks
Administrative Law	Natural justice, judicial review, delegated legislation, tribunals	~5 marks
Tax Law	Income tax basics, GST concepts, taxation principles	~5 marks
Law of Torts	Negligence, defamation, nuisance, strict liability, remedies	~5 marks

CLAT PG 2026 Preparation Insight

The CLAT PG exam is not based on rote learning but on comprehension-based legal analysis. Questions are usually derived from judgments, statutes, and legal passages, requiring candidates to:

Understand legal principles in context
Analyze judicial reasoning
Apply concepts to case-based scenarios
Develop strong reading and interpretation skills

Constitutional Law remains the most important scoring area, followed by Jurisprudence and core substantive law subjects.

CLAT PG 2026 Preparation Strategy (Weightage-Based)

The CLAT PG exam is highly comprehension-based and tests legal reasoning through passages derived from statutes, judgments, and legal principles. Strategic preparation should focus on high-weightage subjects.

Subject-Wise Weightage Strategy

Subject	Weightage	Importance
Constitutional Law	40%	Very High
Jurisprudence	20%	High
Other Law Subjects	25%	Medium
Current Legal Affairs	15%	High

Key Preparation Focus Areas

Strong conceptual clarity in Constitutional Law
Regular reading of landmark judgments
Understanding legal principles and doctrines
Practicing comprehension-based questions
Revision of core law subjects like Contract, Torts, IPC, etc.

CLAT PG 2026 Counselling Process

CLAT PG 2026 counselling is conducted by the Consortium of NLUs after the declaration of results. It is the final stage of admission where candidates are allotted seats in participating NLUs based on their CLAT PG rank and preference list.

Counselling Process Includes:

Online registration on CLAT portal
Payment of counselling registration fee
NLU preference filling and locking
Publication of seat allotment lists in multiple rounds
Selection of Freeze / Float / Exit options
Payment of confirmation fee
Document verification by allotted NLU
Final admission confirmation

Key Features:

Conducted in multiple rounds
Based on merit rank and category reservation
Seat movement occurs across rounds
Final admission only after verification and fee payment

CLAT PG counselling is a critical stage that determines final admission into NLUs and requires timely decision-making at every round.

CLAT UG vs CLAT PG 2026: Key Differences & Comparison

CLAT PG 2026 and CLAT PG 2027 follow a similar structure, but differ mainly in timeline and exam cycle. Both exams are conducted by the Consortium of NLUs and serve as gateways for LLM admissions.

Particulars	CLAT UG	CLAT PG
Eligibility	10+2 pass	LLB (3/5 years)
Minimum Marks	45% Gen, 40% SC/ST	50% Gen/OBC, 45% SC/ST
Courses	BA LLB, BBA LLB, etc.	LLM
Subjects	English, GK, LR, Maths	Law subjects (core + advanced)
Difficulty	Moderate	Moderate–Difficult
Duration	2 hours	2 hours
Questions	120	120
Negative Marking	-0.25	-0.25

Seats Comparison

CLAT UG Seats: ~3243
CLAT PG Seats: ~1373

What is CLAT PG and why is it conducted?

CLAT PG (Common Law Admission Test – Postgraduate) is a national-level entrance examination conducted by the Consortium of National Law Universities (NLUs) for admission to LL.M. programmes offered by participating NLUs and other law institutions. The exam assesses candidates' understanding of legal concepts, analytical ability, and comprehension of core law subjects.

What is the eligibility criteria for CLAT PG 2026?

Candidates must hold a 3-year or 5-year LL.B. degree from a recognized university. General, OBC, PwD, NRI, PIO, and OCI candidates must secure at least 50% aggregate marks in LL.B., while SC and ST candidates must obtain a minimum of 45% marks. Final-year LL.B. students are also eligible to apply, subject to meeting the qualifying requirements.

Is there any age limit for appearing in CLAT PG 2026?

No. The Consortium of NLUs has not prescribed any upper or lower age limit for CLAT PG. Candidates of any age can appear for the examination, provided they satisfy the educational eligibility criteria.

When will the CLAT PG 2026 application process begin?

The CLAT PG application process is expected to begin in August 2025 and continue until October 2025. Candidates must complete the online registration, upload required documents, and pay the application fee before the deadline announced by the Consortium of NLUs.

How can I apply for CLAT PG 2026?

To apply for CLAT PG 2026, candidates must register on the official Consortium of NLUs website, complete the online application form, upload the required documents, select examination preferences, pay the application fee online, and submit the form before the closing date.

What is the exam pattern of CLAT PG 2026?

CLAT PG 2026 is an offline, pen-and-paper-based examination consisting of 120 multiple-choice questions. The exam duration is two hours, and candidates receive one mark for every correct answer, while 0.25 marks are deducted for each incorrect answer.

What subjects are included in the CLAT PG syllabus?

The CLAT PG syllabus covers major law subjects, including Constitutional Law, Jurisprudence, Criminal Law, Contract Law, Family Law, Administrative Law, Property Law, Company Law, Public International Law, Environmental Law, Labour Law, Tax Law, Intellectual Property Rights, and other core legal disciplines.

What career opportunities are available after qualifying CLAT PG?

Qualifying CLAT PG can open opportunities in LL.M. programmes at leading NLUs, legal research, academia, litigation, corporate legal practice, judicial services preparation, and legal positions in Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs). Many law graduates also pursue careers in law firms, regulatory bodies, and corporate organizations after completing their postgraduate studies.

Can CLAT PG scores be used for PSU recruitment?

Yes. Several Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) consider CLAT PG scores for recruiting legal professionals for roles such as Law Officer, Legal Executive, and Executive Trainee (Law). However, eligibility criteria and selection procedures vary across organizations.

How many NLUs participate in CLAT PG admissions?

CLAT PG scores are accepted by participating National Law Universities across India for admission to LL.M. programmes. The exact number of participating NLUs may vary each admission cycle, and candidates should refer to the latest notification issued by the Consortium of NLUs.